Just like blood is needed for us to walk, you need oil in your vehicle for running it for extended periods. You should add the correct engine oil and in the correct amount. If you do not and you go wrong in any of these, it will cause problems.
Oil allows the internal moving parts of the engine to lubricate and, refrain from wearing out too fast to cause disaster. You need to maintain its level so it can lubricate properly.
For vehicle maintenance, it’s okay to check your engine oil level regularly. But should you check oil Hot or Cold? If you’re aiming for maximum efficiency of your engine, you should know how to check engine oil like a professional.
Check Oil Hot or Cold
Checking your motor oil level keeps you from running into problems while driving! You should check your oil often to ensure you have enough oil and prevent low oil issues.
The best time to check your engine oil is right before you start the vehicle or 5 to 15 minutes after shutting the engine off. This should give enough time for the oil to return to the crankcase so that you can get a good oil measurement.
Some manufacturers even state engine oil levels should be measured when warm, and others, cold. Make sure to check your owner’s manual for the right method for your car.
In addition to checking oil when warm or cold, you’ll want to park the vehicle on flat pavement before checking engine oil.
This way you will get an accurate measurement. If you check oil on a hill or sloppy area, the oil will slosh to one area and you will not get an accurate measurement.
What to Use When Checking Oil
The dipstick is meant to check the motor oil level. Therefore, you should be checking your oil level with the dipstick.
To check the oil level, you will need to remove the dipstick and use a clean towel to wipe it down and place it back in. Then, pull the dipstick out and check the level of the oil on the dipstick. You want to see that the oil level is at or close to the max mark.
The dipstick has marks on it. It has the highest mark and the lowest mark for a reason. You should never have oil above the max mark and you should never have oil below the min mark.
If the oil is above the max line, that is considered overfull motor oil. And if it below the min line, you have low engine oil.
How to Check Engine Oil Like a Pro
Checking the engine oil is not a hard task and it will not take too long either. Here are the steps on how to check oil in your vehicle.
Step 1: Park Your Vehicle
To start, park your vehicle on a flat surface. You want to make sure you are getting an accurate reading. If the engine has been idling for long, allow it to cool for about 5 to 15 minutes.
This will allow oil to settle. Most manufacturers account for this and build dipsticks that will give readings when oil is hot or cold.
Step 2: Pop the hood
Make sure you are checking oil when the engine is off. Open the hood of your vehicle and locate the dipstick. It is generally located somewhere around the engine. In most cases, there will be a brightly colored plastic tab. Either orange or red.
Step 3: Pull and Wipe Dipstick
After finding the dipstick, pull it out. In most cases there will already be oil on the dipstick somewhere. Using a clean cloth, wipe the dipstick clean and ensure it is dry.
Step 4: Insert dipstick
Insert the dipstick back into its tube. Pull back out and hopefully you can now see readings on the dipstick. Wipe the dipstick one more time and reinsert to see if you get the same reading.
The first time may not be accurate as vehicle oil can wink (splash upward in some cases) or hot oil may not show consistency in height on the dipstick.
Check side with oil on it, and vice versa. Stick should include indicators that give some indication of low, high and normal levels.
Step 5: Check the color and consistency
Before closing out the process, check the consistency and color of the oil. This will help you gauge whether you need to change your oil. If the oil on the stick is gritty, thick, or black colored, that is an indicator you should be changing oil.
If the oil looks milky, you likely have coolant in the oil. Changing the oil in this case is not going to solve the issue. Consider consulting a mechanic to determine where the issue may be originating from and to resolve it for you.
Step 6: Put the dipstick back
If you feel comfortable determining the level, color and consistency of your motor oil – wipe the dipstick off again with cloth and reinsert completely back into the tube. Shut the hood.
If oil is off-colored or if the oil is low, take necessary action as soon as possible. For low oil, add more and for off-colored – get an oil change, if you do not know how to do either – consider visiting your garage or oil expert.
FAQs.
Q: Is it OK to check the oil when hot?
No, it is not OK to check oil when hot. It is best to check the engine oil level prior to starting the car, or 5 to 15 minutes after turning it off. This provides the advantage of having all the oil in the crankcase for an accurate reading.
Q: Does oil read higher or lower when hot?
Engine oil will read lower when it has been checked when hot, as some of that oil hasn’t settled into the oil sump.
The dipstick only reads the engine oil level in the oil sump, meaning the dipstick won’t read the oil that also travels to the valvetrain. This will invariably cause the reading to be read lower.
Let the engine rest for a while after shutting it down, this will ensure to prevent you from looking at the oil level incorrectly.
Q: How much-overfilled oil is OK?
Oil levels are ideally supposed to stay right at the recommended line. However, it is OK if you are a little above the max line, as it shouldn’t do anything.
If the oil is overfilled with a half quart or more, or you see frothing on the dipstick, it will become catastrophic. Thankfully, the only thing to do, will be to drain the overly filled oil.
What Temperature Should You Check Your Oil At? There is no temperature set when you should check the motor oil.
The oil should be hot or cold, and it will give you pretty much the same reading. However, if you are in a really cold area, it’s best to warm up the oil, before you check.
When checking the oil, you can let it get the hottest possible – between 230-260 degrees Fahrenheit, before you check it. You can do this by letting the engine idle for some minutes – 10-15 minutes to be exact. You can check the car owner’s manual to see what they say.
Q: How Long Can a Car Sit Before You Check the Oil?
Again, you can check the oil when it’s warm or cold and it will give you the same reading. However, if the engine has been running long, you can let it sit for 5 to 15 minutes to let the oil settle in the crankcase for an accurate reading.
When checking the oil in a Honda, – whether to check oil when hot or cold, the answer is you can check the oil when it is warm or cold – the temperature of the oil will not make much difference. Just be sure to let the oil settle in the crankcase before checking the oil level.
If you live in an extremely cold climate, you can start the vehicle and idle it for a while. After it has run for a while, turn it off and let the oil in the sump settle down before you check the oil level. This way, the oil won’t chilly for not accurate readings.
Q: What Happens If Oil Level Is Too High?
Overfilling oil can create foaming which is detrimental to the engine. When the crankshaft is spinning, it will whip the oil which can make it froth. The froth can cause tremendous engine wear.
The maximum and minimum markings on the dipstick are a guide for oil level . The oil should not be more than the maximum marking nor less than the minimum marking. The oil level should be full to the max line or slightly below the max line.
Final Words
Now you know if checking the motor oil hot or cold. When it is hot or warm it provides a more accurate reading.
If you live in an extremely cold environment, you should allow the engine to warm up before checking the oil level. It’s best practice to have an oil check done regularly if you want to avoid any issues with your vehicle.
Remember, there can be a form of contamination of the motor oil, such as debris from the metal engine shavings and combustion by-products, if the engine has what it needs for maintenance, you get what you deserve, peace of mind.